Last year, we wrote to tell you about a new rule proposed by the Office of Surface Mining, Reclaimation, and Enforcement (OSMRE) that would legalize and expand the worst abuses of mountaintop removal.

If adopted, the new regulation would be one of the Bush administration's biggest giveaways to Big Coal, exempting coal companies from a law that prohibits surface coal mining activities from disturbing areas within 100 feet of streams.

Changing this "stream buffer zone rule" would destroy thousands of miles of our nation's mountain streams and accelerate the growth of moutaintop removal coal mining -- destroying another 700 mountains over the next decade, according to one estimate.

More than 43,000 Americans like you spoke out during the public comment period on the new rule, with the "overwhelming majority" of the 43,000 comments opposed to the industry-backed proposal.

Nonetheless, the Bush administration is now trying to force the rule through in the final days of its administration.

The OSMRE proposal must be approved by the Environmental Protection Agency before it can be published into law.

Can you take action today and tell the EPA to stop this give away to Big Coal and instead stand up for mountains, clean water, and healthy communities?

Click here to take action:

http://www.ilovemountains.org/action/sbz

Please, take action today. Don't let the Bush administration give a parting gift to its friends in the coal industry, by enshrining the worst abuses of mountaintop removal coal mining into law.

Mary Anne Hitt
iLoveMountains.org

PS Your contribution to iLoveMountains can help us keep the pressure on to end mountaintop removal coal mining. Click here to make a tax-deductible contribution.